There are serious concerns being raised in Bali's House of Representatives around the noticeable inequality of development and distribution of funds on the island, but finding a solution needs coordination and political will.
According to Tribun News, Member of the Budget Agency (Banggar) of the House of Representatives, Eriko Sotarduga said the focus for development has been concentrated in the south of Bali, leaving the rest of the island largely untouched and this imbalance needs to change.
Eriko added the south is so prosperous that people from north, west, and east Bali go there to find jobs and make a living, which in turn means the areas they have left become neglected and suffer as a result, yet they are also tourist destinations in their own right.
The equitable distribution of development is something that most would agree needs to happen but in doing so, Balinese culture (arguably the island's greatest tourist attraction) should not be ignored and the subject of "budget politics" must also be addressed.
This is not an easy thing to do as provinces and regions have different levels of authority when it comes to distribution of funds and development. The current distribution of funds is coordinated at the provincial level and Bali Governor, Mangku Pastika, proposed the regional transfer of funds be handed over to the provinces for equitable distribution of development.
The subject of inequality in Indonesia is something the World Bank has reported on in the past, warning that unless more is done to close the widening wealth gap the country risks losing potential, slower growth and weakened social cohesion.
Sources: Tribun News, RMOL, The Jakarta Post
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